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Former TOWIE star Mark Wright has denied being friends with Paul Simmons-Turner, who was gunned down outside a Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey earlier this week.

Paul, who was well-known in Essex amongst TOWIE stars, was reportedly wanted by the police over a brutal assault on two men at the time of his murder.

Mark, however has denied a friendship, despite the fact an image has emerged of him with his arm around Paul, 30.

Paul Simmons-Turner

The picture, obtained by The Sun, sees the pair smilingly broadly while enjoying a drink and Mark is giving the thumbs up.

A source however told the paper: “Mark was not friends with Paul Simmons-Turner and has never socialised with him. He was aware who Paul was as he’s from the same area. But Mark has photographs taken with thousands of people.”

A rep for Mark declined to comment.

Yesterday scores of touching tributes to Paul – who was allegedly murdered in what police said appeared to be a “targeted attack” – were posted online.

FilmMagic

Arg has spoken out about his friend

James ‘Arg’ Argent, 28, said: “I am really upset and I just want to keep it between family and friends.”

Model Jake Hall told the Mirror: “I have known him from when I was a young boy.